How do you read putts?

I crouch behind my ball and look at the green between ball and hole and look at the level of the green, I then visualise rolling a a ball across the green and picture which way it will roll. Thay then helps me choose my line. Pace, well thats another kettle of swimming things.
 
drive4show said:
2 things for me........

Firstly, I look at the hole to see which side of the hole is higher as that will show you the break around the hole itself as the ball slows down. Secondly, when I stand over the putt, I can feel if my body is leaning over the ball or away from it. This is hard to explain but basically my balance is telling me if the slope is left to right or right to left.

Once I have those two things I can then try to work out the break I need to allow.
Click to expand...

Surely that only tells you the slope of the part of the green you are standing on rather than the line the ball will roll?

Never tried that however, so will give it a go....
 
snaphookwedge said:
Surely that only tells you the slope of the part of the green you are standing on rather than the line the ball will roll?

Never tried that however, so will give it a go....
Click to expand...

True.....but if you think there are multiple breaks then try the same thing further down the line and you should be able to get a pretty decent read. Now, hitting the ball at the correct pace is a different matter.....:whistle:
 
drive4show said:
True.....but if you think there are multiple breaks then try the same thing further down the line and you should be able to get a pretty decent read. Now, hitting the ball at the correct pace is a different matter.....:whistle:
Click to expand...

How are the Hayling greens anyway??
 
drive4show said:
2 things for me........

Firstly, I look at the hole to see which side of the hole is higher as that will show you the break around the hole itself as the ball slows down. Secondly, when I stand over the putt, I can feel if my body is leaning over the ball or away from it. This is hard to explain but basically my balance is telling me if the slope is left to right or right to left.

Once I have those two things I can then try to work out the break I need to allow.
Click to expand...

That 2nd process, or one very similar, is one of the techniques Aimpoint uses btw. So sort of validated. It's another way of finding the slope without being influenced by the surroundings - those optical illusions! I certainly use it in places!
 
First, I look at it from above when marking the ball. While others are putting, I'm crouched to look at the line I want as close as I can without affecting fcs. I will crouch as low as possible so I'm close to the suface.

When it's my turn, I'll walk towards the ball, seeing the line from a raised position again, picking the hole as the aim point, or a specific point on the green I want the ball to be travelling towards as I start the putt.I'll then position the manufacturer's line marking in line with the line I've chosen.

Then take 1 practice swing, followed by 3 more where it's a constant back and forth, feeling the right distance back and through, always holding the follow through the third time for a second or two. Then stand over the ball, look once more, either at the hole or the target spot the ball needs to hit before dropping towards the hole, and putt. I try to avoid looking up until I think the ball's near the hole or even wait to hear it drop, as that prevents me looking up too early and twisting.

Before anyone complains how long this must take, it doesn't. This entire process is split between people putting around me (getting the line) and the practice swing and putt.

Seems to be working according to anyone who's seen me putt in the last 4 months.
 
I usually get in a press up position and get as low to the grass as possible so I can be at the same level as the golf ball.
I don't really haha.

I usually just squat behind the ball have a quick look then have few practice putts and away I go. Last 3 feet always catch me out may have to start looking at those from the other side.
 
brysoni23 said:
I usually get in a press up position and get as low to the grass as possible so I can be at the same level as the golf ball.
I don't really haha.

I usually just squat behind the ball have a quick look then have few practice putts and away I go. Last 3 feet always catch me out may have to start looking at those from the other side.
Click to expand...

Have a look at what I said above regarding the actual hole itself. Look to see if one side of the hole is higher than the other, that will give you a clue as to what the ball will do at the holeside :thup:
 
when I struggle seeing a 'break' I lie down behind the ball to see the line- what it actually gives me is the slope as you feel the break through your whole body via gravity-(bit like aimpoint feet thing but more reliable) best to put your head down as well to really 'feel' the break and don't lie there too long.

Not great in wet weather though.
 
CMAC said:
when I struggle seeing a 'break' I lie down behind the ball to see the line- what it actually gives me is the slope as you feel the break through your whole body via gravity-(bit like aimpoint feet thing but more reliable) best to put your head down as well to really 'feel' the break and don't lie there too long.

Not great in wet weather though.
Click to expand...

Thanks, just for a follow-up is doing a roly poly down the green against the rules?
 
I've recently started giving putts the Bradley-style-stink-eye. Definitely seems to have helped me!

Keegan+stinkeye..jpg
 
I normally ask "where would this ball end up if I hit it dead straight at the hole", that gives me a feel for how much break I'm going to need. At pace a lot of putts don't move more than an inch or 2 so I generally try to pick the correct side of the hole and let the chips fall where they may. My weakness is often not hitting putts hard enough, but that's down to lack of play more than anything else.
 
Mental image of a line to the hole like the comp games and imagine a hand rolled ball along that line to judge pace
 
snaphookwedge said:
Thanks, just for a follow-up is doing a roly poly down the green against the rules?
Click to expand...

now your just being silly:whistle:

I forgot to mention when you lie down it's important, nae essential that you lie on your back not your flabby tummy.

The big back muscles are better for analysing the variances in the slopes. This works about 347% better than aimpoint, or 2 fingers in aimpoint speak:smirk:
 
duncan mackie said:
as outlined eloquently by Rooter, i look for the fall line - the line that a ball would roll down away from the hole on.

I find it helpful to go and stand on that line and look at my ball in relation to the hole.......at which point things should become clear if the area I;m considering is on a single plane/slope! this clarity covers both up/down hill and curves.

I use the reverse where there's a ridge down to the hole between the ball and hole - find the point on the ridge where the ball will run straight down to the hole and then work back to how to get my ball running on that line.

then I stand over the ball and everything goes to pot :thup:

I also stopped taking any practice putting swings after watching Rory - i actually found it helps me make the right swing because that's the only thing I focus on now through the stroke.
Click to expand...

More or less the same as I do. Funny I've stopped having any practice puts over the ball. Seems to improve the concentration for me.
 
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